Waiting in the right line | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Waiting in the right line to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ist das die richtige Schlange?

ist dahss dee RIKH-tih-guh SHLAHNG-uh? Is this the right line?

Sie geht zum Empfang.

zee GAYT tsoom em-PFAHNG. It goes to the front desk.

Ist der Empfang dort vorne?

ist dair em-PFAHNG dort FOR-nuh? Is the front desk up ahead?

Wir können ihn von hier aus sehen.

veer KURN-en een fon heer ows ZAY-uhn. We can see it from here.

Soll ich mich hinter dich stellen?

zoll ikh mikh HIN-ter dikh SHTEL-len? Should I stand behind you?

Bleib dicht bei mir; hier ist nicht viel Platz.

blype dikht bye meer; heer ist nikht feel plahts. Stay close; there isn't much space.

Die Schlange bewegt sich langsam.

dee SHLAHNG-uh beh-VAYKT zikh LAHNG-zahm. The line is moving slowly.

Wir können noch ein bisschen warten.

veer KURN-en nokh ayn BIHS-khen VAHR-ten. We can wait a little longer.

Word by Word

Ist “Ist” means “is” here, asking whether something is correct or located somewhere. In “Ist das die richtige Schlange?” and “Ist der Empfang dort vorne?”, it begins a yes-or-no question; the citation form is “sein”.

das “Das” means “this” in “Ist das die richtige Schlange?”, referring to the line being indicated. The pattern “Ist das ...?” is useful for asking whether a pointed-out thing is something or has a certain quality.

die “Die” means “the” in “die richtige Schlange,” identifying the specific line being discussed. It comes directly before the noun phrase “richtige Schlange”.

richtige “Richtige” means “right” or “correct” in “die richtige Schlange.” It describes which line is meant: the one the speakers should use; the citation form is “richtig”.

Schlange “Schlange” means “line” or “queue” here, as in “die richtige Schlange” and “Die Schlange bewegt sich langsam.” A useful pattern is “in der Schlange warten” for waiting in a queue.

Sie “Sie” means “it” in “Sie geht zum Empfang,” referring back to the feminine noun “Schlange.” Here it is the subject of the statement about where the line leads.

geht “Geht” means “goes” or “leads” in “Sie geht zum Empfang”; the line leads to the front desk. The citation form is “gehen,” and a useful pattern is a subject followed by “geht zu” and a destination.

zum “Zum” means “to the” in “zum Empfang.” It is the contraction of “zu dem,” and it introduces the destination of the line.

Empfang “Empfang” means “front desk” or “reception” in “zum Empfang” and “der Empfang.” It names the place the line leads to and the place visible ahead.

dort “Dort” means “there” in “dort vorne,” pointing to a location away from the speakers. Together with “vorne,” it helps locate the front desk up ahead.

vorne “Vorne” means “ahead” or “in front” in “dort vorne.” It specifies that the front desk is at the forward part of the area, while “dort” points to the location.

Wir “Wir” means “we” in “Wir können ihn von hier aus sehen” and “Wir können noch ein bisschen warten.” It refers to the two speakers together as the people who can see and wait.

können “Können” means “can” or “are able to” in “Wir können ihn von hier aus sehen” and “Wir können noch ein bisschen warten.” It is followed by the action that is possible, such as “sehen” or “warten”.

ihn “Ihn” means “it” in “Wir können ihn von hier aus sehen,” referring to “der Empfang.” It is the thing the speakers can see from their current position.

von “Von” means “from” in “von hier aus,” introducing the starting point of the viewpoint. Together with “hier aus,” the phrase means that the speakers can see the front desk from where they are.

hier “Hier” means “here” in “von hier aus,” referring to the speakers’ current position. It identifies the place from which they can see the front desk.

aus “Aus” completes “von hier aus,” expressing the viewpoint or starting position “from here.” Its meaning in this dialogue comes from this whole fixed combination with “von hier”.

sehen “Sehen” means “see” in “Wir können ihn von hier aus sehen.” It follows “können” as the action the speakers are able to perform, with “ihn” as what they see.

Soll “Soll” means “should” here, asking whether the speaker ought to do something in “Soll ich mich hinter dich stellen?” The citation form is “sollen,” and “Soll ich ...?” is a useful way to ask whether one should take an action.

ich “Ich” means “I” in “Soll ich mich hinter dich stellen?” It identifies the speaker as the person who may move into the line.

mich “Mich” means “myself” in “mich hinter dich stellen,” showing that the speaker places themself in a position. It belongs with “stellen” in the action of getting into that position.

hinter “Hinter” means “behind” in “hinter dich.” It gives the position the speaker is asking about: behind the other person in the line.

dich “Dich” means “you” in “hinter dich,” identifying the person behind whom the speaker may stand. It refers directly to the other person in the line.

stellen “Stellen” means “place” or “put” in “mich ... stellen,” which here means to stand oneself in a position. A useful pattern is the reflexive action of placing oneself behind another person.

Bleib “Bleib” means “stay” in “Bleib dicht bei mir.” It is a direct request for the other person to remain close; the citation form is “bleiben”.

dicht “Dicht” means “close” or “near” in “dicht bei mir.” It describes the small distance the speaker wants to maintain, together with “bei mir”.

bei “Bei” means “near” in “bei mir,” identifying the person whose side the other person should stay near. The pattern “bei” followed by a person is useful for describing being near or with that person.

mir “Mir” means “me” in “bei mir.” It identifies the speaker as the person the other should stay close to.

nicht “Nicht” means “not” in “hier ist nicht viel Platz.” It negates “viel,” so the sentence says that there is not much space rather than that there is no space at all.

viel “Viel” means “much” in “nicht viel Platz,” referring to a large amount of space that is lacking. It is used directly before “Platz” to describe the amount of room.

Platz “Platz” means “space” or “room” in “hier ist nicht viel Platz.” A useful pattern is “viel Platz haben” when talking about having plenty of room.

bewegt “Bewegt” means “moves” in “Die Schlange bewegt sich langsam.” It describes the line’s movement, while “sich” completes the reflexive movement expression; the citation form is “bewegen”.

sich “Sich” is part of “bewegt sich,” describing the line as moving itself or moving along. It is used with “bewegt” here rather than describing a separate object.

langsam “Langsam” means “slowly” in “Die Schlange bewegt sich langsam.” It describes the speed of the line’s movement and comes after the movement expression here.

noch “Noch” adds the idea of continuing or an additional amount in “noch ein bisschen warten.” In this dialogue, it makes the meaning “wait a little longer.”

ein “Ein” is part of the expression “ein bisschen,” meaning “a little” or “a bit.” It combines with “bisschen” before the verb phrase “warten”.

bisschen “Bisschen” means “bit” or “small amount” in “ein bisschen.” The expression “ein bisschen warten” means to wait for a short additional amount of time.

warten “Warten” means “wait” in “noch ein bisschen warten.” It follows “können” as the action the speakers are able to continue doing.

Grammar Points

zu + dem = zum

Geht zum Empfang.

GAYT tsoom em-PFAHNG.

Go to the reception desk.

Vor einem maskulinen oder neutralen Nomen wird „zu dem“ zu „zum“: zum Empfang.

Imperativ von bleiben

Bleib hier.

blype heer.

Stay here.

Der Singular-Imperativ von „bleiben“ lautet „Bleib“ ohne die Endung „-en“.

German Vocabulary

du pron

doo you dich

Soll ich mich hinter dich stellen?

Empfang noun

em-PFAHNG front desk; reception

Sie geht zum Empfang.

gehen verb

GAY-uhn to go geht

Sie geht zum Empfang.

hier adv

heer here

Wir können ihn von hier aus sehen.

hinter prep

HIN-ter behind

Soll ich mich hinter dich stellen?

richtig adj

RIKH-tikh right; correct richtige

Ist das die richtige Schlange?

Schlange noun

SHLAHNG-uh line; queue

Ist das die richtige Schlange?

sehen verb

ZAY-uhn to see

Wir können ihn von hier aus sehen.

sich pron

zikh oneself mich

Soll ich mich hinter dich stellen?

von prep

fon from

Wir können ihn von hier aus sehen.

vorne adv

FOR-nuh up ahead; at the front

Ist der Empfang dort vorne?

zu prep

tsoo to zum

Sie geht zum Empfang.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is this the right line?

Show Answer

Ist das die richtige Schlange?

It goes to the front desk.

Show Answer

Sie geht zum Empfang.

Is the front desk up ahead?

Show Answer

Ist der Empfang dort vorne?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to see

Show Answer

sehen

right; correct

Show Answer

richtige

here

Show Answer

hier

to go

Show Answer

geht